Why troll when you can catch all the species you are looking for while bottom fishing simultaneously on the light line?
POST HIGHLIGHTS
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Traditionally November is when the Grouper Spawn is in Overdrive.
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Thanksgiving week is always the moment of truth; it’ll tell you where the “line” of 68-degree water is.
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Go ahead, call me a fish snob, but I am fishing for everything I like to eat. Period.
November is traditionally the cornerstone to true fall and the beginning of winter. Now is when the grouper spawn is in overdrive. We will see giant schools of cigs and sardines in nearshore waters and giant stacks of beeliners (vermillions) in offshore waters. All are perfect targets for all gamefish.
The water temps will start to dive off in waters right on the beach, and the chill will creep slowly farther offshore when we get closer to December. Thanksgiving week is always the moment of truth; it’ll tell you where the “line” of 68-degree water is. Right up to the “line” is off limits to the kings, dolphins, and tuna, and everything inside that line is gold.
Yes, I like to fish light line for all the pelagics, but sometimes the light line is a real distraction. I look at the light line like this: If you get a bite from a dolphin tuna or wahoo, it’s a great thing. But if you get a king on light line, it’s a significant period of time when you can’t bottom fish. I want to bottom fish more than I want a king or dolphin. Go ahead, call me a fish snob, but I am fishing for everything I like to eat. Period. Full disclosure: a king is delicious, but only when FRESH!
Inside the cold water “line” will be where the grouper and big snapper are (in my humble opinion), and that’s my target fish. The wahoo rarely ventures inside the 68-degree water and prefers the 69-plus-degree line. Fish right on the line, where it goes from 67.8 to 69-plus degrees, especially if you can find bait and/or structures like ledges or wrecks on this “line.”;
Now is also the time to run up and down the “line” with high-speed stuff to find where you get bites. It is a great way to locate an area that holds fish. A ROFFS chart will put you in the vicinity of the fish, but after that, it’s up to you to locate specific areas of fish that concentrate enough to anchor on (or put the Rhodan over) to bottom fish while light lining.
As I have said for many years, why troll when you can catch all the species you are looking for while bottom fishing simultaneously on the light line? Learn how to fly a kite and fish live bait under a cork while anchored and chumming. In my opinion, it is the most productive way to come home with the best groceries.
SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:
7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!
4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.
4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.
8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.
